International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

The Growing Theft of Souls: The Effects of Peer Bullying and Lynching Culture on Youth – Evidence From Türkiye and Media-Based Illustrations

With the integration of social media into our lives, peer bullying, which already existed among young people, has been carried to a higher level and its sphere of influence has expanded. Especially lynching acts carried out more systematically and easily on social media through anonymous identities have made peer bullying a more widespread problem today. This situation leads to negative consequences such as lack of self-confidence, becoming more withdrawn compared to peers, experiencing psychological problems, and even engaging in self-harm behaviors. Our aim is to examine and identify the negative effects that peer bullying and lynching culture may cause on young people and to protect youth by minimizing these effects. In the first part of the research, a detailed literature review was conducted, and the information obtained formed the theoretical framework. In the second part, a quantitative research technique was used, and a data collection tool called the “Peer Bullying Scale” was prepared and applied to the sample groups. The population of our research consists of students studying in the Besiktas district, and the sample group consists of 141 students selected through a disproportionate sampling method. As a result of the survey, it was observed that the classes most exposed to bullying were Preparatory and 9th graders. This can be explained by younger age groups newly acquiring the ability to defend and express themselves. In addition, the results revealed that the group most at peace with themselves consists of those who have not been exposed to bullying.